Human Occupation and Land Use

Although estimates of the number of archaeological sites within Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument range from 18,000 to 100,000, detailed
excavations have been limited in number. Existing evidence suggests that
humans have used the lands within the current monument boundaries for
at least 8,000 years, beginning with the nomadic Archaics.
Artifacts of this ancient culture within the monument consist only of
scattered flaked stone tools, indicating only that Archaic peoples foraged
on the plants and animals of the region.

By 400 A.D., both Anasazi and Fremont
peoples had settled in the area, remaining until the widespread exodus
of the region by both cultures in the 1300s. Most of the settlements of
these two cultures consisted of small villages of pithouses
and adobe pueblos, although several larger villages with large structures
of forty to fifty rooms were also located in the area. The Anasazi and
Fremont both grew crops of maize
and beans, foraged native plants, and hunted game such as deer, bighorn
sheep, and rabbits. Several archaeological sites in the monument represent
cultural mingling between the Anasazi and Fremont, a rare event in southwestern
prehistory. Around 1000 A.D., several new cultural influences moved into
the area: Shoshonean peoples, ancestors of the modern Southern
Paiute and other tribes; Athabaskan
peoples, ancestors of the Navajo and
Apache; and Kayenta Pueblo peoples.

Southern Paiutes view the monument area as their tribal homeland. For
many centuries, small bands of the tribe harvested local plants, hunted
game and grew irrigated crops within the area. The Southern Paiute were
one of the few North American tribes that did not incorporate horses into
their culture, as the sparse vegetation of most of the Grand Staircase-Escalante
region could not readily sustain grazing. Like many Native American tribes
during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Southern Paiute were subjected
to slave trading at the hands of recently arrived Spanish
explorers and aggressive bands of Navajos and Utes.
This practice continued until the establishment of Mormon
settlements in the 1860s. By this time, Southern Paiutes occupied most
of the monument, with Utes inhabiting the northeast corner. In addition,
Hopi peoples occasionally made use of
the land's seasonal resources.

Between 1860 and 1880, several Mormon communities were established in
the region, including Escalante, Boulder, Tropic and Kanab. These
historic settlements were largely limited to the periphery of the modern
monument's borders due to the difficult topography, arid conditions, and
great distances between reliable water sources. The boundaries of the
monument were carefully drawn to exclude these towns due to traditional
local opposition to increased protection for public lands.

Despite the imposing landscape, the Mormons were determined and hardy,
building homes, dams, irrigation systems, reservoirs, and trails across
south-central Utah. As with other settlements across the west, the settlement
of the monument region was part of their religious mission to gain control
of large expanses of "unclaimed" land in order to freely
practice their faith. Much of the "unclaimed" land settled by
Mormons was, of course, the traditional land of Native Americans. This
lead to conflict between the newcomers and the natives, especially since
the Mormon pioneers were attracted to the most verdant agricultural and
prolific gathering areas. Most of the conflict was between the Mormons
and Navajos, although some occurred with the Southern Paiutes. Yet some
Southern Paiutes also went to work for the Mormons, receiving food, clothes,
and other goods. In 1917, the Kaibab Reservation was established in northern
Arizona, southwest of the monument, allowing the Southern Paiute an opportunity
to preserve their traditions and culture.

While early Mormon settlers subsisted on agriculture, the scarcity of
water and arable land restricted this economy. By the turn of the century,
livestock operations were the basis of the local economy in the towns
bordering the monument. In later decades, tourism and filmmaking became
increasingly important sources of employment. Today, the presence of Bryce
Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks, Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area, and numerous national forests, wilderness
areas, and state parks in the regions surrounding the monument has continued
to both cause and reflect a shift from traditional activities such as
mining, agriculture and logging
to recreation and tourism. These
shifts in the economy of southern Utah have had mixed impacts. Although
traditional jobs have been lost, the increasing demand for recreational
open space is increasing both the economic value of these protected lands
and the associated job opportunities
for the residents of southern Utah.